Also among the 30 or so FBS signal-callers expected to attend is Grayson. The Rams’ fourth-year senior said it was the opportunity to participate in the academy — and mingle with one of his idols — played a role in pushing through what was ofttimes multiple rehab sessions a day.

Oh, and the exposure from participating in the camp didn’t hurt the thought process either.

“Peyton has been my favorite quarterback, and it’s always been my dream to meet him, so obviously that’s pushed me really hard to get in there and do multiple rehabs if I can,” Grayson said according to the Loveland Reporter-Herald. “Just make sure it’s healthy and good to go, because I know scouts go to that camp and that’s kind of where (former San Jose State quarterback) David Fales’ name kind of took off. I want to go down there as healthy as possible and do the best for myself.”

Grayson is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the country, having thrown for 3,696 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2013. Both of those totals stand as single-season school records.

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Auburn defensive end Dee Ford had been recognized by the Senior Bowl earlier in the week for his efforts in practice all week, and he capped it off by helping to lead the South defense to a 20-10 victory over the North. Ford recorded a pair of sacks and earned Senior Bowl MVP honors to continue to build momentum heading closer to the NFL Draft.

Practices leading up to the actual game tend to carry more weight in player evaluations, but here are six players who made the most of their performance in the Senior Bowl, in no particular order.

1. DE Dee Ford, Auburn

Ford was difficult to slow down in this one. Much like his impact in the BCS Championship Game, Ford brought constant pressure in the North backfield and recorded a pair of sacks and batted down a pass. If any defensive lineman helped his draft profile with this game, it was Ford. Ford was named the Senior Bowl MVP.

2. RB James White, Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s running back led all players in the game with 61 rushing yards on 11 rushing attempts. He was the lone highlight for the game for the North squad as he scored the North’s only touchdown.

3. RB Lorenzo Taliaferro, Coastal Carolina

One of the top names from the FCS ranks playing this weekend handled himself well for the South team, leading the team in rushing with 31 yards.

4. QB David Fales, San Jose State

He did throw an interception, but he also had the arm that threw two of the biggest offensive plays in the game. Fales completed six of seven passes for a game high 104 passing yards and a touchdown.

5. DB Pierre Desir, Lindenwood

One of the biggest questions about Desir was how he would perform on the field against all of those big receivers from the big time programs. He did quite well, coming down with an interception in the end zone late in the game.

6. TE Crockett Gillmore, Colorado State

Colorado State tight end Crockett Gillmore made some nice plays when on the field, including two of the better catches of the game for the South. He also led all players with 61 receiving yards and snagged a touchdown catch from Fresno State’s Derek Carr on a pass that was slightly behind him on the run.

And here are three who left something to be desired in the game.

1. QB Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

For all of the talk about potential for Logan Thomas, the Senior Bowl showed much of what Hokies fans have witnessed the past few years. He did complete four of five passes, but for just 18 yards. Thomas took a handful of sacks as well for a loss of 38 yards.

2. QB Tajh Boyd, Clemson

Boyd failed to make any special plays in the game, completing a little less than half of his passes (7 for 16) for 31 yards. He was also intercepted once.

3. QB Stephen Morris, Miami

It must be an ACC thing. Morris joined his conference mates in having a rough afternoon in Mobile. Miami’s quarterback completed 9 of 16 passes for 84 yards and two interceptions in a game when no quarterback for the North team (yes, the North) struggled to move the offense against the South defense.

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As if you needed another example of just how good the college football talent is in the south, the South is leading the North 20-3 at halftime in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Alabama wide receiver Kevin Norwood has 42 receiving yards and a touchdown, but Colorado State’s Crockett Gillmore leads all players with 51 yards and a touchdown and two of the better catches in the half. Auburn defensive lineman Dee Ford has been having a productive game on the line, always finding his way in the backfield regardless of the North quarterback. Ford has a pair of sacks and a deflected pass right back in the face of Miami quarterback Stephen Morris.

Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr had a great week of practice and has established some momentum heading closer to the NFL Draft, and he tossed the first touchdown of the game midway through the first quarter. Carr’s pass was slightly behind Gillmore on the run, but the Rams standout managed to get his hands on the football and run the rest of the way to the end zone on a 17-yard scoring play. The other touchdown of the half was tossed by another Mountain West quarterback, San Jose State’s David Fales. Fales managed to find a wide open Norwood while on the move to get away from pressure midway through the second quarter.

Auburn kicker Cody Parkey has kicked two field goals, one from 50 yards and a second from 39 yards, to help pad the South lead.

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Feeling as though he has shown enough over the past three seasons as Alabama’s starting quarterback with nothing more to prove, AJ McCarron has decided to pass on participating in next week’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Leading up to Alabama’s appearance in the Sugar Bowl it was reported McCarron was not likely to participate in the senior showcase in his hometown.

As reported by AL.com, McCarron officially declined his invitation to the Senior Bowl. His absence leaves one roster spot open for a quarterback. Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, Fresno State’s Derek Carr, San Jose State’s David Fales, Miami’s Stephen Morris and Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas are already on the roster. Underclassmen leaving for the NFL early such as Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel are not eligible to participate.

Th Senior Bowl offers a chance for players to work out and practice in front of NFL coaches and scouts under the instruction of NFL coaches. For many, the Senior Bowl and similar games also give players a chance to improve their NFL Draft stock or grab a scout’s eye for a potential undrafted free agent contract down the line. McCarron’s draft stock is particularly interesting, and his decision to not participate in the biggest offseason event for NFL Draft eligible players outside of the scouting combine is a tad puzzling.

McCarron is likely to be a third-round draft pick at best according to various NFL draft scouts and rankings. Would a good week at the Senior Bowl do much to change that? Perhaps not, but given the way his season ended it would have been a positive to see him get in to as close to an NFL environment as he has been in among other future NFL players. The flip side of that of course is the question about what a poor or less than impressive showing at the Senior Bowl would do his draft profile. Would it sink him to the fourth or fifth round?

Keep in mind there will be plenty of opportunities for McCarron to show off what he can do in front of NFL scouts. The scouting combine will continue to be the top event to look forward to, so McCarron is likely setting his sights on that moving forward.

The Camp Foundation announced that San Jose State quarterback David Fales and Iowa linebacker Christian Kirksey have been named the National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.

Fales passed for 547 yards and threw six touchdowns as SJSU handed unbeaten Fresno State its first loss of the 2013 season. The senior added 33 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground in leading the Spartans to bowl eligibility.

On the defensive side, Kirksey was credited with 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry in the Hawkeyes’ 21-point win over Nebraska.